These were the four losses that hurt the Denver Broncos most in 2021

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Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) reaches for Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock (3) as Broncos offensive tackle Garett Bolles (72) attempts to block him and is called for a holding penalty in the second half of the NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, at Empower Field in Denver. Cincinnati defeated Denver 15-10.Cincinnati Bengals At Denver Broncos 398 /

Week 15 vs. Cincinnati Bengals

This was the one the Broncos HAD to win. A loss meant a playoff berth would be highly unlikely and a loss it was. Another tough loss at home.

This was the game where Bridgewater was concussed and Drew Lock had to come on in relief. He soon threw a touchdown pass to put the Broncos ahead only for Joe Burrow to answer right back for a Bengals offense that had been quiet all day until he hit Tyler Boyd with a 56-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter.

The key play in the game came in the fourth with the Broncos in position to score and regain the lead. That was until, for whatever reason, Pat Shurmur called for an RPO play with Lock, and that probably wasn’t the best choice.

Lock made the wrong read and Cincinnati defensive end Khalid Kareem ended up ripping the ball right out of his arms and running the other way with it for a big gain. That put a huge damper on any chance Denver had to win the game and ultimately, a huge damper on their playoff chances.

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The loss dropped the Broncos record to 7-7 on the year with the final three games all being against divisional opponents. Of course, they would go on to lose all three of those as well.